Dell Pro Slim QCS1250 2025, Core Ultra 7 265K, 16GB, 2TB SSD, Black
The 20-core Intel Core Ultra 7 265K processor with a dedicated 13 TOPS NPU for AI acceleration makes this a standout for local machine learning tasks and heavy multitasking. Its compact small form factor design doesn't sacrifice connectivity, offering eight USB-A ports alongside a generous 2TB NVMe SSD. This system is best for office professionals and data analysts who need a powerful, desk-friendly PC for compute-intensive business applications, not graphics work.
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Snapshot
The 30-Second Version
The Dell Pro Slim QCS1250 packs a 96th percentile Core Ultra 7 265K CPU and a 92nd percentile 2TB NVMe SSD into a compact 3.74-inch-wide chassis. It's a business workhorse with serious processing power for $1,379 USD. Just don't expect much from the integrated graphics, the gaming score of 16 out of 100 says it all.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Core Ultra 7 265K CPU in the 96th percentile, one of the best processors we track 97th
- 2TB NVMe SSD in the 92nd percentile for storage, fast and spacious 90th
- Compact SFF chassis at just 3.74 inches wide 75th
- Windows 11 Pro and a 2-year warranty included 70th
- 8 USB-A ports plus USB-C and dual display outputs
Cons
- Integrated Intel UHD Graphics 770, gaming score of just 16 out of 100
- 16GB RAM is only average at the 56th percentile
- No dedicated GPU option in this configuration
- USB 2.0 ports on a machine this new feels dated
- Reliability score of 70th percentile is solid but not outstanding
The proof
Performance
The Core Ultra 7 265K is the star here, and it's not close. At the 96th percentile for CPUs, this processor is one of the best on the market right now. The 20-core configuration with a 5.5GHz Turbo Boost ceiling means heavy Excel workbooks, database queries, and even light video editing won't make this machine break a sweat. The 13 TOPS NPU is a nice bonus for AI-accelerated tasks in Windows 11 Pro, though most business users won't notice it day to day.
The 2TB NVMe SSD is another standout, landing in the 92nd percentile for storage. Boot times and app launches will feel snappy, and 2TB gives you plenty of room for years of documents, email archives, and whatever else your IT department insists on hoarding. The 16GB of DDR5 at 5600 MHz is fine for typical office workloads, but it's only average compared to other desktops in our database. If you're the type who keeps 40 Chrome tabs open alongside three Excel instances and a Teams call, you might feel the ceiling. The integrated Intel UHD Graphics 770 is serviceable for display output and basic tasks, but it's a weak spot for anything beyond that.
Specifications
Full Specifications
Processor
| CPU | Intel Core Ultra 7 |
| Cores | 20 |
| Frequency | 3.9 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 30 MB |
Graphics
| GPU | Intel UHD Graphics 770 |
| Type | Integrated |
Memory & Storage
| RAM | 16 GB |
| RAM Generation | DDR5 |
| Storage | 2 TB |
| Storage Type | NVMe SSD |
Build
| Form Factor | sff |
Connectivity
| USB-C Ports | 1 |
| USB Ports | 8 |
| HDMI | 1x HDMI 2.1 (TMDS) |
| DisplayPort | 1x DisplayPort 1.4a (HBR3) |
| Bluetooth | ✓ |
| Ethernet | Gigabit Ethernet |
System
| OS | Windows 11 Pro |
vs Competition
Stacked against the competition, the QCS1250 occupies an interesting niche. The Lenovo Legion Tower 5a Gen 10 and HP OMEN B91WHAA#ABA are gaming-focused machines that will absolutely destroy this Dell in graphics performance, but they're larger and aimed at a different buyer. The Apple Mac Studio M4 Max is in another league for creative workloads, though it costs significantly more and runs a different OS. The CLX SET and MSI Aegis ZS2 are both gaming rigs with dedicated GPUs that make the QCS1250's integrated graphics look like a calculator. Where the Dell wins is the combination of a top-tier CPU, compact form factor, and business-friendly features like Windows 11 Pro and a 2-year warranty. It's not trying to compete with gaming towers, and for the right office setup, it doesn't need to.
| Spec | Dell Pro Slim QCS1250 | Apple Mac Studio M3 Ultra | Lenovo T Series Towers Legion Tower 5a Gen 10 | HP OMEN GT16-0364 | CLX SET TGMSETRTU5204BM | MSI Aegis ZS2 A9NVP-1407US |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPU | Intel Core Ultra 7 | Apple M3 Ultra | AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D | AMD Ryzen 7 8700F | Intel Core i9 14900KF | AMD Ryzen 9 9900X |
| RAM (GB) | 16 | 96 | 32 | 32 | 64 | 32 |
| Storage (GB) | 2048 | 1024 | 4096 | 1024 | 8192 | 2048 |
| GPU | Intel UHD Graphics 770 | Apple M3 Ultra 60-core | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 |
| Form Factor | sff | sff | mid-tower | mid-tower | mid-tower | mid-tower |
| Psu W | - | - | 850 | 850 | 850 | 750 |
| OS | Windows 11 Pro | macOS | Windows 11 Home | Windows 11 Home | Windows 11 Home | Windows 11 Home |
| Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare |
| Product | CPU | GPU | RAM | Ports | Storage | Reliability | Social Proof |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dell Pro Slim QCS1250 | 96.9 | 58.7 | 54.1 | 74.5 | 90.2 | 70 | 57 |
| Apple Mac Studio M3 Ultra Compare | 99.7 | 76 | 95.7 | 93.8 | 53.7 | 99.3 | 86.3 |
| Lenovo T Series Towers Legion Tower 5a Gen 10 Compare | 73.5 | 93.1 | 78.1 | 88.4 | 98.2 | 70 | 100 |
| HP OMEN GT16-0364 Compare | 69.8 | 89.2 | 87.3 | 98 | 53.7 | 70 | 99.1 |
| CLX SET TGMSETRTU5204BM Compare | 95 | 89.2 | 96.5 | 84.2 | 99.2 | 11.6 | 94.8 |
| MSI Aegis ZS2 A9NVP-1407US Compare | 92.5 | 89.2 | 87.3 | 90.5 | 82.9 | 37.4 | 99.6 |
Price
Value & Pricing
At $1,379 USD, the QCS1250 is priced like a premium business machine, and for the CPU and storage alone, it mostly earns that tag. The Core Ultra 7 265K is a genuinely high-end processor, and pairing it with a 2TB NVMe SSD in a compact chassis is a compelling combo for office deployments. But you're paying for that CPU while settling for integrated graphics and just 16GB of RAM. If your workflow is CPU-bound, this is a fair deal. If you need GPU acceleration or more memory headroom, that $1,379 starts to feel less like a bargain and more like a compromise.
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Overview
The Dell Pro Slim QCS1250 is a small form factor business PC that packs a surprisingly serious processor. The Intel Core Ultra 7 265K sits in the 96th percentile for CPUs in our database, which means this little box has more processing muscle than the vast majority of desktops we track. You get 20 cores, a 3.9GHz base clock, and Turbo Boost up to 5.5GHz, plus a 13 TOPS NPU for AI workloads. That's a lot of silicon in a chassis that's just 3.74 inches wide.
The rest of the spec sheet is a mixed bag. The 2TB NVMe SSD lands in the 92nd percentile for storage, which is excellent for a business machine. But the 16GB of DDR5 RAM is only middle of the pack at the 56th percentile, and the integrated Intel UHD Graphics 770 is about average for integrated graphics. For office work, spreadsheets, and multitasking, this thing will fly. For anything graphics-intensive, well, the gaming score of 16 out of 100 tells you everything you need to know.
Common Questions
Q: How big is the Dell Pro Slim QCS1250?
It measures 11.95 inches tall, 3.74 inches wide, and 11.54 inches deep, weighing 8.61 pounds. That's a proper small form factor machine that should fit under most desks or on a shelf without much fuss.
Q: Can I upgrade the RAM later?
Yes. The QCS1250 supports up to 128GB of DDR5 memory, which is a huge ceiling compared to the 16GB it ships with. Given that the stock RAM only lands at the 56th percentile in our database, upgrading to 32GB or 64GB would be a smart move if you run heavy multitasking workloads.
Q: Is this PC good for gaming?
No, and the numbers back that up. The gaming score is 16 out of 100, which is one of the weakest we've seen. The integrated Intel UHD Graphics 770 simply isn't built for modern games. This is a business machine through and through.
Who Should Skip This
Anyone who needs real graphics performance should steer clear. The integrated Intel UHD Graphics 770 produces a gaming score of 16 out of 100, which is one of the worst results in our database. If you do any video editing, 3D modeling, CAD work, or gaming, this machine will frustrate you. Also, if you're a heavy multitasker who regularly pushes past 16GB of RAM, the stock memory configuration at the 56th percentile might leave you wanting. You'd be better off with a machine that has a dedicated GPU or at least more RAM out of the box.
Verdict
The Dell Pro Slim QCS1250 is a focused machine that does one thing extremely well: CPU-heavy business work in a small footprint. The Core Ultra 7 265K at the 96th percentile and the 2TB NVMe SSD at the 92nd percentile make this a genuinely fast office PC. But the integrated graphics and average RAM allocation mean it's not a jack of all trades. If your daily grind is spreadsheets, email, web apps, and the occasional light photo edit, this machine will serve you well for years. If you need to render video, run CAD software, or sneak in a game after hours, look elsewhere.
Usage Scores
- Overall71
- AI/LLM27.8
- Gaming17.5
- Portability68.7
- Creator32.4
- Business75.3
- Developer70.3
- Home Office74
- Workstation68